Locking device for automobiles



F. s slwzcm.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION HLED FEB.18 l92|- 1,400,243. Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FELIX G. SIWECEI, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LOOKING DEVICE FOR ao'romonrnns Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FELIX G1 Srwnom, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in locking devices'for automobiles.

- One of the objects of the invention is to 1 i/[dean improved means for locking the lovers of an automobile.

another object of the invention is to rovide a locking means for the controlling levels of an automobile which may easily and conveniently be put in looking position by slight movemen of the foot of the driver.

Another object of the invention is to provide a locking means or apparatus 'for two or more of the controlling lovers of an automobile 7 Another object is to lprovide a convenient means for attaching t a locking device to the standard frame of an automobile,

Other, further and more specific objects of the invention will become readily apparent, to persons skilled in the art, from a consideration of the followi description when taken in conjunlption wit the accoman drawin' gs, w ereinz- P Flgfiie 1 shows a plan view of the locking device as it appears in connection with the controlling levers of an automobile Fig. 2 is a. side elevation of the device.

Fi 3 is an end elevation of the device showing the bolts in looking positions.

Fig. 4 is a broken away portion of a plan view of the device showing the bolts in un locking position.

In all the views the same reference characteis are employed to indicate similar parts.

In the construction shown 5 and 6 are a pair of brackets fried to a plate 7, as by spot wcldin B, rivets, or by any suitable means by WllCll the parts are inseparably joined. in like manner the plate 7 is con nccted to an upright 9.

The ulri ht member 9 is slotted, as at 10, for axial ad} ustment with a similar upright member 11, These members are connected together by screws 12, and are axially ad justed to compensate for vanatmnsm dimansions of the automobile upon which the device is to be placed. The lower end of the member 11 is secured to a, bracket 13, which 15 supported on a frame member 14 of the automobile by the bolt 15. The bracket 13 is also secured to the flange 16 of the frame member 14, by bolt 17.

The up r end of the member 9 is seecured to t 0 vertical wall 18 of the autornd bile by a. strap 19 in any suitable manner. The bracket 5 is secured to a lock 20 by spotweldm or the like, as at 21.

A bodt guide 22 inseparably secured to the bracket 6, as by spot welding 23 or any other suitable manner. 1m lock bolts 24 and 25 are guided in the member 22. The loclr bolts 24 and 25 are held together at theinouter ends by a cross piece 26 and are yieldingly held in their outward positions by a spring 27, that is coiled about a rod 28, fixed to the cross piece 26, which moves with the lock bolts 24 and 25. One or both of the lock bolts, 24 and 25, is provided with a notch 29 on its end, as more clearly shown m Fl 1 to engage a spring bolt 30 in the lock 0, When the key 31 in the look 20 is turned, the lock bolt 30 is withdrawn from the notch 29 in the bolts 24 and 25 and the sprin r 27 will return said bolts to the positwo is own in Fig. 4.

The orifice 33, in which the lock bolt 25 is caused to .cnter, extends through the look and contains a spring pressed bolt 34, normally held in the look by a spring 35 except when moved out by the bolt 25, as shown in Fig. 1, when the bolts is in locked position,

The lock 20 and the guide 22 are spaced apart to admit one of the controlling levers 36 therebetween, The controlli o lever 36 is shown in Fig. 1 to be locat between these members and the lock bolts Q and 25. In order to start the automobile it is nec essnry that this lever be removed from such a position and therefore when it is confined by the lock bolts $1 and 25, it is impossible to move it )roliminarily to starting the automobile. it will be observed, furthermore, that the sprin pressed bolt 31 extends outwardly from he loclr, as shown in Fig. 1, and p reronls forward movement of the lever 37, the movement of which Tom this OSl tion is so essential in the operation 0 the automobile.

A stop plate 38 has a flanged end 39 that nerves as a stop to prevent excessive outward and become automaticallly movement of the cross bar 26 and the connected lock bolts 24 and 25 by operation of the spring 27.

To lock the automobile to prevent unau thorized use of the vehicle, it is only neces sary to bring the lever 36 into the position shown in F 1g. 3, which is the position it occupies when the automobile is at rest, and pressing the lock bolts 24 and 25 into sition shown in F 1 against the resi ient resistance interposed by the spring 27. The toe of the operators foot when moved to the right will cause the bolts 24 and 25 to enter the lock, on either side of the lever 36 v en aged with the spring bolt 30 of the loo an thereby held inlocked position, rendering the controlling levers 36 and S'Zinefi'ective for the purpose of starting the car.

To unlock the device it is only necessary to insert and turn the key 31, whereu on the spring 27 will cause the bolts 24 an 25 to be withdrawn from the lock and to be returned to the positions shown in Fig. 4, and the bolt 34 will be returned into the in' terior of the look by operation of the spring 35.

The ease and fncility with which the levers may be looked in place readily commends itself. Of course when the device is locked, key 31 is not present in the look, but when it is desired to unlock the device the opening in the lock is accessible to the driver who may stand upon the ground and iuilock the device before entering the vehicle.

While I have herein shown a single embodiment of my invention for the purpose of clear disclosure, it will be manifest, to

persons skilled in the art, that considerable change in the configiuntion, design and arrangement of the parts may be made within the scope of the ap ended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device to lock a controlling lever of an automobile providing a bracket supported on the automobile; a lock casing and a bolt guide spaced apart on the bracket to admit a lever therebetween; tivo spacedapart lock bolts arran ed to enter the lock cas ng, carried bysai guide; a cross mem ber connecting the outer ends of said bolts; a spring ressed latch within the lock ens? ing engag ng one of said bolts and arranged to be withdrawn by a key and a spring to return said lock boltsto unlocked position when released by the key.

2. A device of the character deseribed comprising a 5' ring lock toieceive twofl 'pmallel sliding b0 ts; e spaced away boll-guide, supporting said belts in re star with the bolt receiving openings in t e lock casing to admit a lever of the automobile therebetween; a 5 ring to normally hold the bolts out of the ock and means in the lock casing to hold the bolts therein with the bolts on either side of a controlling lever that run be released by a key and a sprin pressed bolt in the lock casing displaced from the interior of the look by the entrance of one of the aforesaid lock bolts, into the path of nnother controlling le er of the automobile.

In testimony whereof I hereunto sub' scribe my name.

FELIX G. SIWECIU. 

